Cruz tops in recent battle for bucks

By Joe Holley :
July 16, 2012
: Updated: July 16, 2012 11:52pm

HOUSTON — In his increasingly contentious Republican runoff contest with one of the wealthiest elected officials in the nation, insurgent U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz has raised $1.7 million during the latest fundraising period, slightly more than opponent David Dewhurst, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The lieutenant governor raised $1.5 million during the same period, May 10 to June 30, but lent his campaign another $4.5 million from his personal fortune, bringing the total value of his personal contributions to $16.5 million. Cruz has lent his own campaign slightly more than $1 million.

Fundraising totals for the two Democratic U.S. Senate candidates, also locked in a runoff, lagged far behind their GOP counterparts.

Dewhurst's immense personal wealth scared off several potential candidates to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, but it has not insulated him from the high-energy zeal of Cruz and his tea party supporters. Two recent independent polls show the former Texas solicitor general pulling ahead of the longtime lieutenant governor.

Cruz, 41, said he has received donations from 29,742 people, with more than 20,000 of them giving repeat contributions. The average donation was $156.84.

“This is a remarkable showing of grass-roots support across Texas and the nation,” Cruz spokesman James Bernsen said. “These thousands of supporters are rallying around our campaign, because, like Ted, they recognize that politicians from both parties have got us into this mess and they want a fighter to stand for limited government and the Constitution.”

Dewhurst's overall fundraising total is $7.9 million, compared to around $7.6 million for Cruz. According to the campaign, 90 percent of Dewhurst's donations were from Texas.

“After another successful fundraising quarter, the momentum continues to build for David Dewhurst in his bid for U.S. Senate,” Dewhurst senior adviser Jim Bognet said. “Texans know that David Dewhurst is the only candidate in the race with the proven conservative record of cutting spending and taxes that is desperately needed in Washington.”

The Texas Conservatives Fund, the Super PAC supporting Dewhurst, raised nearly $2.5 million in the second quarter, according to Federal Election Commission documents. Much of that came from super donors, including $500,000 from Contran Corporation CEO Harold Simmons, and $200,000 from home-builder Bob Perry, who contributed $100,000 earlier this year.

Cruz enjoys the support of Club for Growth. The Washington-based anti-tax group said last week it was beginning a $1.5 million television and radio advertising campaign contending that Dewhurst has raised taxes during his decade-long tenure as lieutenant governor.